One of the best sides of Spain is it’s peaceful, truly hidden and undiscovered side.  While it is always a pleasure to drop in on one of the country’s amazing cities, heading out to an authentic, tranquil and rural part of Spain is a joy, and I was lucky enough to do this trip and experience it last November. So for your perusal, this week's Adventure of the Week is Walking in Las Alpujarras.

In a nutshell

Distance: 60-70 km. On some days you have a choice of loop walks, which means that if you want to take it easier, there's the option for you to do it.

Grade: This tour is graded as moderate. Las Alpujarras is a hilly region, so there are uphill sections almost every day, but the views at the top are so worth it!  The paths are a healthy mix of trail, farm track and irrigation channels. The paths are well waymarked, but we will also give you route notes and everything you need to navigate it successfully. 

Where?

Las Alpujarras is in Andalucia, down in the very south of Spain.  The area is better known for its amazing trio of cities, Seville, Cordoba and Granada, but the surrounding countryside is absolutely stunning too and the Moorish influence that pervades in the cities is gloriously present in each little village on the route.

Why Walk Here?

If you want to get away from everything and connect with nature, that's the trip for you. I was lucky enough to experience it last year, it was the perfect adventure for a digital detox. The people, the food, the weather, the views, the stunning landscapes and the picturesque rural white-washed villages were all we needed to have an incredible and unforgettable trip. The actual route itself is charming, with unbelievable vistas of the Sierra Nevada which brings a wealth of unique fauna and flora.  The start and the end point of this trip is the great city of Granada. It is a city that everyone should visit at least once in their lives. A visit to the Alhambra of Granada (a palace and fortress complex of such immense design and history that is usually cited as one of the most popular attractions in Spain) is a must, either at the beginning or the end of your trip. We recommend you book your tickets in advance, they sell out very quickly!

Top Tip: the day you walk to Trevelez, you need to stop by and eat some of the dried ham, the village is known for its delicious and tasty "jamones"! Also, at some point during your trip, you need to try the delicious rabbit or lamb, typical of the area.

Planning and preparation:

It is fairly easy to get to Granada to the start of this wonderful trip.  Malaga is only 1.5 hours away from Granada on the bus and just about every regional airport in Europe goes to Malaga.  You might be lucky enough to have a direct route to Granada, but often they are much less available. The best time of the year to do this trip is from February to November, excluding July and August because of the heat! I went in November and the temperature and weather were just perfect! We had sun and blue skies the full trip!

If you have any questions about the region or the trip, don’t hesitate to contact info@macsadventure.com and one of the team will be more than happy to get back to you.